The population of Leicester will increase by 26,100 by 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics - making it the fastest growing city in the region.

In 2016 the population was 349,500. By 2026 it is expected to reach 375,600, a rise of 7.5%.

By comparison, the population of Nottingham will increase by 17,200 to reach 342,000, Derby's figure will increase by 11,500 residents to 267,700, Northampton will increase by 17,400 to 241,900 residents, and Lincoln will grow by 2,800 to 100,200.

Every two years the ONS estimates how the population of England will change over the next 25 years.

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Statisticians study birth and death rates, and look at how the area's population is ageing.

In Leicester the percentage of the population made up by pensioners is expected to rise from 11.7% in 2016 to 13.5% 10 years later.

New Walk

People are living longer due to improvements in healthcare and technology, however this puts greater pressure on the NHS and social care.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK charity director, said: "The fact there are growing numbers of older people is a cause for real celebration, but these figures underline, once again, the need to ensure that our health and social care system is fit for the future.

"The Government's decision to produce a social care green paper was welcome but realistically it will be years before its proposals impact in local areas, so action is needed now to shore up what remains of our care system."

The Clock Tower (Image: Frederick Banda)

When calculating the population estimates for Leicester the ONS expects the birth rate to outstrip the death rate. Figures also show the male population is expected to grow slightly faster than the female population.

The statisticians then factor in people moving around England and immigrating from across the world, which is called internal and international migration.

The ONS estimates there will be an overall net decrease of 1,000 migrants by 2026. The most significant decrease was in migrants from other parts of England, with a net reduction of 29,900 estimated.

Andrew Nash, from the ONS, commented: "While the overall populations of all regions in England are projected to increase over the next decade, reasons for these increases vary greatly depending on where you live.

"For instance, projected population change in London is mainly caused by natural change - the difference between the number of births and deaths - and not migration.

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"This is because London's net inflow of international migrants is offset by a similar number of people moving to other parts of the UK.

"That contrasts with the North East, where growth is mostly down to migration. What's also clear is that the population is ageing in all regions, with the number of people aged 65 and over growing considerably faster than younger age groups."

Population growth in Leicester was above average for the East Midlands, where the population is expected to increase by 6% by 2026.

People walking in Leicester city centre

The average growth rate across England was 5.9%.

Tower Hamlets in London is projected to be the fastest growing local authority, with the population increasing by 17.8% by 2026.

Only 15 local authorities have populations which are expected to fall. The City of London has the biggest drop of 12.5% followed by Barrow in Cumbria.

And the ONS predicts that by the year 2041 the population of Leicester will have grown to 404,500.